Dispensing apparatus



Dec. 5, 1961 v. HECHLER 1v DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 6, 1957 VALENTINE HECHLER N ATT'Y Ill-Illullulllll l llll I Dec. 5,1961 v. HECHLER lV 3,011,680

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY A, '1

V ATT'Y United States Patent 3,011,680 DISEENSING APPARATUS ValentineHechler IV, Evanston, 111., assignor to Webcor, Inc. Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 6, 1957, Ser. No. 701,097 12 Claims.(Cl. 221-109) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus, and moreparticularly to a power actuated dispenser useful in discharging aplurality of packages successively during an operating interval ofpreselected duration.

In a dispenser of the type herein considered, it is necessary that arelatively large storage magazine be provided, and that packages bepositively transferred therefrom in rapid succession to an ejector thatforcibly discharges each of the packages. Thus, it is seen thatessentially the apparatus comprises a storage magazine, a transfermechanism and an ejector; and that the operations of these componentsmust be closely coordinated and controlled if the dispenser is tofunction properly.

In the past, several power actuated dispensers have been proposed, butfor one reason or another these dispensers have not proved satisfactory.Either they are unreliable, are too bulky and complex, are too costly,or much too sluggish in performance of their operational cycles, or oneor more of the main components thereof has been ill matched in terms ofperformance with the other components. As a result, these prior artmechanisms have fallen far short of the necessary requirements fordispensers of this type.

it is, accordingly, an object of this invention to overcome thedisadvantages inherent in the prior art dispensers. Another object ofthe invention is in the provision of a power actuated package dispenserhaving a storage magazine, transfer mechanism and ejector; in whichpackages are positively fed from the magazine to transfer mechanism, arepositively advanced to an ejector by the transfer mechanism and are thenpositively discharged by the ejector; and in which such sequence israpidly efiected, whereby a large number of packages can be processed ina very short interval.

Still another object of the invention is in the provision of a dispenserof the type escribed, wherein the transfer mechanism has a short strokeand thereby quickly advances packages from the storage magazine to theejector because the idle time cycle of the transfer mechanism issubstantially negligible. Yet another object is to provide a storagemagazine having a plurality of storage racks, in which packages aredischarged in rack-byrack sequence, and wherein successive racks areautomatically conditioned for the discharge of packages therefrom byremoval of all of the packages from the adjacent, preceding rack.

A still further object is in providing a storage magazine of the typedescribed wherein separate resilient means are incorporated in each rackthereof for urging the package stack therein toward the discharge end ofthe rack, and in which the force exerted on a stack by the resilientmeans progressively decreases as the packages are discharged therefromin general accordance with the decreasing inertial characteristics ofsuch diminishing stack. A further object is to provide a transfermechanism that utilizes the momentum of reciprocable elements therein toalternately condition the mechanism for the transfer and return strokesthereof.

Yet a further object is in the provision of a reciprocable transfermechanism having a plurality of transfer fingers adapted to extendoutwardly therefrom for advancing packages in step-by-step relationduring the transfer stroke of the mechanism, wherein the transferfingers are positively moved for the transfer stroke into the extendedposition thereof, and for the return stroke into Fate-rated Dec. 5, 18%

the retracted position thereof, and wherein such positive movements ofthe fingers are accomplished through utilization of the momentum ofcertain reciprocable components of mechanism that results from theacceleration attained during the transfer and return strokes thereof.

Still a further object is that of providing a package dispenser having astorage magazine, transfer mechanism and ejector; in which the transfermechanism can serve as an ejector or an ejector is so synchronized withthe transfer mechanism that each package is forcibly discharged by theejector from the dispensing station without having come to rest aftermovement thereinto by the transfer mechanism. Additional objects andadvantages of the invention will become apparent in the specification.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser incorporating theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, broken top plan view of the dispenser;

FiGURE 3 is a broken, longitudinal sectional view of the transfermechanism, showing the parts thereof during the transfer stroke andtaken along the line 33 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 4 is a broken, vertical sectional view identical to that ofFIGURE 3, but showing the mechanism in condition for the return strokethereof;

FIGURE 5 is a broken, perspective view showing the lower end portion ofone of the racks in the storage magazine;

FIGURE 6 is a broken, side view in elevation of the lower end portion ofa storage rack in its relation to the transfer mechanism; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of the transfer mechanism takenalong the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

The package dispenser in its entirety is shown in FIG- URE 1, and asindicated hereinbefore comprises the three major components of a storagemagazine Ill, a transfer mechanism 11 and ejector 12. All of thesecomponents are carried by a main frame 13 defined on each side of thedispenser by longitudinally extending top and bottom beams 14 and 15rigidly secured to end rails 16 and 17. It is apparent that the mainframe 13 will be rigidly secured by any suitable means to the superstructure (not shown) of a housing providing the environmental setting forthe dispenser.

The storage magazine It} is seen to comprise a plurality of verticallyextending racks 18 defined generally by the channels 19 secured to theframe members 14 and 15, and forming package guides. In the specificillustration, there are nine racks 18 and such racks are separated fromeach other by the respective channels or package guides 19. As shownmost clearly in FIG- URES 2 and 5, the package guides 19 are provided oneach side of the dispenser, and are respectively aligned with eachother. The racks 18 are all identical, except for the rack separatelydesignated in FIGURE 1 with the numeral 18a, which differs only slightlyfrom the others and in a manner that will be described in detailhereinafter.

Extending transversely of the dispenser and between the aligned guides19 on each side thereof, are rods 28 and 21 located, respectively,adjacent the upper and lower end portions of the racks 18. The rods 20and 21 extend through vertically disposed guide tubes 22 and 23, andthereby support the same adjacent the respective guides 19 on each sideof the dispenser. Extending between the opposite corners defined by therectangular configuration of the rods and tubes 20, 21, 22 and 23 arediagonally disposed guide rods 24 and 25 which are rigidly securedthereto. Thus, the described components s,011,eso

namely, the channels 19 and rods and tubes 20 through form packageguides separating the adjacent racks 13. These package guides functionto separate the individual stacks of packages 26 within each ofthe'racks 18.

The package stack in each of the racks 18 is urged or biased downwardlyby a spring cord 27. The cord 27 is rigidly afi'ixed at one end thereofto the upper frame member 14, is shown at 28, extends downwardlytherefrom and over the periphery of a rotatably supported pulley wheel29, and upwardly therefrom and into a rigid cord clasp 3b. The clasp issecured to a similar cord clasp 31, as by means of a slot and bayonetconnection 32; and the clasp 31 is in turn secured to a spring cord 27aentrained about a rotatable sprocket 2% and afiixed at its other end tothe upper frame member 14 on the opposite side of the dispenser, asshown at 28a. The resilient cords 2'! and 27a are stretched in order toextend over the top of the stack of packages, and therefore bias suchpackages downwardly. Since the cords are drawn over the pulley wheels 29and 2%, a multiplication factor to 2-to-l is obtained for the downwardlydirected force applied to the package stacks.

The clasps 30 and 31 are rigid so as to maintain the cords in properalignment with respect to the packages, and to urge the same downwardlywith a uniform force applied thereacross. Preferably, the cords 27 and27a are inversely oriented so that the rigid clasps 30 and 31 extenddiagonally across the packages 26. The racks 18 must, of course, be openat their upper ends to permit packages 26 to be loaded thereinto, andconsequently the releasably secured clasps 30 and 31 permit this resultfor they may be released from each other and turned outwardly over therespective frame members 14. In order to maintain the clasps in suchposition during loading of the racks 18, jam cleats or latches 33 and 34are carried by the respective frame members 14 adjacent the outer end ofthe clasps 3t and 31. As is shown best in FIGURE 1, these fasteners havegenerally V-shaped grooves therein adapted to receive the resilientcords, and the ends of the rigid clasps abut the fasteners to preventthe cords from being drawn inwardly through the l-shaped notches in thefasteners.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, the manner in which thepackages 26 are supported within the respective racks 18 will bedescribed. It will be seen in this figure that package retainers 35 and35a are provided, respectively, along opposite sides of the dispenser,and more particularly along opposite sides of the racks 18. The packageretainers are generally rectangular and are. interposed between adjacentchannels 19. They extend inwardly therefrom in the position thereofillustrated in FIGURE 5, so as to engage the undersurface of thelowermost package 26 in the stack thereof. At their outer extremities,the retainers are provided with a longitudinally extending collar 36having a channel therethrough that pivotally receives a pin 3'7. Thus,the retainers are freely pivotal about the axis defined by therespective pins, and consequently may be swung downwardly from theposition shown in FIGURE 5 to open the lower or discharge end of theracks and permit the packages 26 to move downwardly therethrough.

If desired, the package retainers may be spring biased into thegenerally horizontal position thereof shown in FIGURE 5, so that theretainers return to such position whenever all of the packages have beendischarged from 'the respective racks.- If such an arrangement isemployed, it will be apparent that the spring biasing force must be lessthan the weight of a single package 26 plus the effort of the cords onthe packages so that one package resting on theretainers will swing thesame downwardly and fall therepast. However, in the specific formillustrated, the pins 37 which are supported by the channels 19 arelongitudinally movable with respect thereto, and are equipped with aplurality of keys or bayonet pins 38-one for each of the retainers35-which are slidable into a recess 39 therefor in the collar of each ofthe retainer plates. The pins 37 are also rotatable with respect to thechannels 19, and may be equipped at their outer ends with a knob orhandle 40 to facilitate both rotational and longitudinal movementthereof.

With the arrangement just described, the package retainers 35 may beswung into the horizontal position shown in FIGURES for intercepting andsupporting packages 26 whenever the bayonet pins 38 are received withinthe slots 39 in the retainers, by rotating the pins 37 to effect suchpositioning of the retainer plates. After the retainers have beensecured in the horizontal position thereof, by means to be describedimmediately hereinafter, the pins 37 are moved longitudinally along theaxes thereof to release the bayonet pins 38 from the slots 39.Thereafter, the retainers 3:3 may be swung downwardly independently ofthe pins 37. It will be appreciated that the package retainers 35 ineach of the racks 18 can be returned simultaneously to the packagesupporting position thereof by a single rotational movement of the pins37 after the bayonet pins 38 thereof are engaged in the slots of therespective retainers.

The package retainers of each rack 18 are maintained in packageintercepting position by means of a retainer latch 41 provided for eachrack. Each latch 41 may be equipped at the ends thereof with L-shapedcatches 42 and 52a adapted to extend under the respective latch platesso as to support the same. The latch 41 is pivotally supported on therod 21 by means of collars 43 and 43a, respectively provided by thecatches 42 and 42a. The pin or rod 21 freely extends through thecollars, and adjacent each collar (in cooperative relation therewith andsurrounding the pin 21) are the helical springs 44 and dda which biasthe latch 41 laterally of the position shown in FIGURE 5, whereat theplates 35 are free to swing downwardly. As seen in FIGURE 6, the biasingforce exerted by the coil spring is resisted and opposed by packages 26within the adjacent rack 18, and which abut the vertically extendinglegs of the catches 42 and 42a. Thus, the latches cannot release theretainers inone rack 13 until all of the packages have been dischargedfrom a preceding rack, and then the latches automatically swinglaterally because of the biasing force exerted by the coil springs torelease the retainer plates and thereby permit the packages in thatsucceeding rack to move downwardly.

It was noted hereinbefore that the rack 18a difiers slightly from theremaining racks, and the difference is with respect to the structureillustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6namely, the package retainers 35 and latch41.

The rack 13a does not include these elements, for this rack is the firstto be unloaded or have the packages therein transferred to the ejectormechanism and, consequently, the retention of packages within the rack18:: is unnecessary. Therefore, in loading the storage magazinelh, itwill be preferable to first stack the rack ]8a with packages, and thenthe successive racks in order from right to left, as seen in FIGURE 1.The reason for this is clear in that as each preceding rack is loaded,the next rack adjacent thereto is automatically conditioned for loadingfor the latch 31 thereof has been pivoted under the package retainers 35to lock the same in the pack age supporting position thereof.This'loading order is essential if the package retainers 35 are returnedto the horizontal position thereof solely by spring means, but is notabsolutely essential with the return arrangement shown in FIGURE 5,wherein the retainers are swung into horizontal position by means of thepins 37 which may be equipped with means for locking the same in theposition shown in FIGURE 5 until all of the racks have been loaded.

The transfer mechanism by which packages are shifted from the storagemechanism to the ejector or" the dispenser will now be described, and inparticular FIG- URES 3, 4 and 7 will be of primary interest. However,referring first to FIGURES l, 5 and 7, it will be noted that a pair ofrails 45 and 46 are disposed between the lower end of the magazine 10and the transfer mechanism 11. These rails are adapted to supportpackages 25 thereon, and to have packages so positioned thereon from thedischarge ends of the various storage racks 13. The rails are inverted,L-shaped channels, and are oriented in spaced apart relation so as toreceive the transfer mechanism 11 thereoetween. The rails are somewhatlonger than the transfer mechanism, and extend throughout the entirelength of the magazine 19 and forwardly therefrom into adjacency withthe ejector 12.

FIGURE 3 makes it evident that the transfer mechanism has a generallyrectangular casing 47 providing a bottom wall 48 and end walls 49 and 50extending upwardly therefrom. The casing may also have side walls,defining with the end walls a compartment 51 therewithin. The casing maybe rigidly secured by any suitable means to the main frame 13 of thedispenser, and the upper edges of the casing are disposed slightly belowthe rails 45 and 46. Preferably, the inner surfaces of the end walls 49and 50 are covered, respectively, with resilient bumpers 52 and 53 toabsorb and attenuate shock resulting from abutment thereagainst of areciprocable carriage 54.

The carriage 54 is substantially shorter than the space defined betweenthe end walls 49 and 50 of the casing, and is supported for freelongitudinal or reciprocatory movement therebetween upon frictionlessbearing members 55. The bearings 55 are interposed between the bottomwall 43 of the casing and the bottom wall 56 of the carriage which isequipped with upwardly extending stops or end walls 57 and 58. Byreferring to FIG- URE 7, it will be evident that the carrier 54 is alsoprovided with side walls 59 and 60, having at the upper ends thereofinwardly turned flanges 61 and 62. The side, end and bottom walls of thecarriage define an elongated compartment 63 therein adapted to havemounted therein a transfer carriage 64.

The transfer carriage 64 is substantially shorter than he compartment63, and is free to reciprocate longitudinally therein between the limitsestablished by the stops 57 and 53 of the carrier. For the most part,the transfer carriage 64 is a solid block having substantial mass,whereby it tends to maintain movement imparted thereto in eitherdirection upon reciprocatory movement of the carrier 54.

The trmsfer carriage does, however, comprise a plurality of compartments65 therein-one for each of the transfer fingers 66. In the specificillustration, there are nine transfer fingers, one for each of the racks18 in the storage magazine. The compartments 65 are elongated axially inthe direction of reciprocatory movement of the transfer carriage 64, andhave substantially the same length along such axis as the inclined camslots 67. It may be noted that the projected axial length of the camslots 67, and consequently of the compartments 65, is equivalent to thedistance between the end wall 58 of the reciprocable carrier and the endof the transfer carriage adjacent thereto, as shown in FIGURE 3. FIGURE7 makes it clear that the cam slots, which are provided along each sideof the transfer carriage, openly communicate with the respectivecompartments 65; and FIGURES 3 and 4, in turn, make it evident that thebottom wall 56 of the carrier 54 is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced openings 68 arranged in two spaced rows (FIGURE7), also communicating with the compartments 65 through similarlyoriented and arranged openings or apertures 69 formed in the carriage 64along the wall portion thereof defining the lower extremity of eachcompartment 65. The openings 69 are actually elongated along thereciprocatory aXis of the carriage, and have the same dimension in thatdirection as the compartments 65. On the other hand, the openings 68 inthe carrier are relatively small, and are adapted to loosely receive thespaced tongues 70 of the transfer fingers 66 therein.

The compartments 65 permit the transfer carriage 64 to reciprocatelongitudinally between the stops 57 and 58 of the carrier withoutconstraint from the transfer fingers 66, and without tending toreciprocate the transfer fingers along the same axis. On the other hand,the tongues 70 of the transfer fingers in the coactive relationshipthereof with the openings 68 in the reciprocable carrier, constrain thetransfer fingers against movement in the direction of reciprocation ofthe transfer carriage. In order to further prevent movement of thetransfer fingers along the reciprocatory axis of the carriage 64, and tomaintain the transfer fingers in the generally vertical positionsthereof shown in FIGURE 3, the flanges 61 and 62 of the carrier extendalong the forward and rear faces of the fingersor, stated another way,the flanges are provided with slots (as seen in FIGURE 7) that receivethe transfer fingers therein, and permit free vertical movement thereofbut at the same time prevent their movement along the axis ofreciprocation of the transfer carriage 64.

The transfer fingers 66 along each side thereof are provided with camfollowers '71 that are slidably received within the respective cam slots69. The cam followers are in the form of cylindrical stub shafts, andare loosely received within the cam slots so as to afford substantiallyfrictionless movement of the cam followers therethrough. It will beapparent that if the transfer carriage 64 is moved toward the right, asseen in FIGURE 3, with respect to the reciprocable carrier 54, theuppermost wall of each of the cam slots 67 will move into engagementwith the cam followers 71 and press the same downwardly, whereupon thetransfer fingers will be retracted or pushed downwardly into theposition thereof illustrated in FIGURE at the time that the trans-fercarriage has moved completely to the right with respect to the carrier,or against the stop member 58 thereof. On the other hand, upon reversemovement of the transfer carriage relative to the carrier (that is, fromthe position shown in FIGURE 4 to that shown in FIGURE 3), the lowermostsurface of the cam slots will engage the cam followers 71 and drive thesame upwardly, whereupon the transfer fingers will be returned to theextended or raised position thereof illustrated in FIGURE 3.

The reciprocable carrier 54 is moved or shifted between the positionsthereof shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 by means of piston-cylindercombinations 72 that are preferably two-way air cylinders so as to powerboth the transfer stroke and return stroke of the carrier. Fl- URES land 7 make it clear that two transfer cylinders 72 are provided-onealong each side of the carrier 54. The cylinders or casings of thetransfer members 72 are stationmy with respect to the casing 47, and arerigidly carried by the main frame 13 of the dispenser, preferablythrough the rails 45 and 46. On the other hand, the piston orreciprocable member of each of the power cylinder units is connected tothe carrier 54 through coupling blocks 73 rigidly connected to therespective side walls 59 and 69 thereof. It will be apparent thatseparate air cylinder units could be provided for the transfer strokeand return stroke of the reciprocaole carrier, or that the return strokecould be actuated by resilient means such as springs. Preferably,however, two-way air cylinder units are employed, and the fluid circuittherefor will include valve means (not shown) for alternately supplyingair or other fluid under pressure to the opposite ends thereof, and forexhausting the respective ends of the cylinder units as necessary.

The operation of the transfer mechanism is as follows: Assume first theposition of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 3, and that a package 26is disposed forwardly, or to the right in that figure, of each of thetransfer fingers 66. In this configuration of the various components,the carrier'Sd is as far to the left as it can move with respect to thecasing 7; and similarly, the transfer carriage 64 is as far to the leftas it can move with respect to the carrier.

Now, when a charge of fluid under pressure is admited to the left-handend of the power cylinder 72, the piston thereof is moved toward theright and since it is rigidly connected to the carrier 54 through theblock 73, the carrier will be moved toward the right and ultimately intothe position shown in FIGURE 4, wherein the end wall 58 thereofsubstantially abuts the end wall 50 of the casing and the resilientmember 53 carried thereby. Such movement toward the right of the carrier54 will terminate abruptly, but with a slight cushioning action effectedbetween the end of the cylinder and piston thereof in the power units72, and also by abutment of the wall member 53 of the carrier with theend wall 59 of the casing.

During this movement of the carrier 54, the transfer carriage 64 hasadvanced therewith because, initially, the transfer carriage is inabutment with the stop member 57 of the carrier. However, when movementof the carrier terminates, there is nothing to stop continued movementof the transfer carriage, and the inertia or momentum thereof carries itinto the position shown in FIGURE 4, wherein it abuts the stop member 58of the carrier. Since the transfer fingers 66 are elevated (as shown inFIG- URE 3) during the entire movement of the carrier 54, packagessupported on the rails 45 and 46 will be advanced therealong through adistance equal to the movement of the carrier.

At the termination of the movement of the carrier, and as the transfercarriage commences to move with respect thereto, the cam slots 67 alongthe uppermost edges thereof will engage the cam followers 71 and willprogressively retract the transfer fingers 65. This retraction will becomplete at the time that movement of the transfer carriage 64 isterminated by abutment thereof with the stop 53 of the carriage. Asexplained hereinbefore, the transfer fingers 66 cannot movelongitudinally with the carriage 6 because of the constraint aganst suchmovement effected through the cooperative relation of the tongues 79 inthe openings 68, and flanges 61 and 62 with the upper portions of thefingers. A transfer stroke of the mechanism has now been completed, andit is in condition for the return stroke thereof.

The return stroke of the apparatus is initiated by supplying fluid underpressure to the right-hand end of the power units 72. Pressure fluidadmitted thereto will drive the pistons therein toward the left, asviewed in FIGURE 4, whereby the reciprocable carrier 54 will be movedfrom right to left and into the position shown in FIGURE 3. At the sametime, the transfer carriage 6 will'be advanced therewith because,initially, it will be in engagement with the stop member 58 of thecarrier, and will thereby be forced to move toward the left. During thismovement, the transfer fingers 66 will be retracted and, consequently,the advanced packages on the rails 45 and 46 will not be disturbedthereby.

However, as the movement of the carrier 54- is terminated by engagementthereof with the resilient cushion 52 of the casing wall 49, thetransfer carriage 64 will continue to move toward the left because ofthe momentum thereof, and in so doing the lowermost inclined edges ofthe cam slots 67 will engage the cam followers 71 and will drive thetransfer fingers 66 upwardly and into the position shown in FIGURE 3.The mechanism will thereby have completed an entire reciprocatory cycle,comprising the transfer stroke and return stroke thereof.

The ejector mechanism in its entirety is shown in FIG- URE 1, andincludes a ram 75 supported for reciprocatory movement along a linesubstantially. normal to the .plane defined by the rails 45 and 46. Theram 75, in

the embodiment of the invention herein shown, comprises the plunger orrod of a power cylinder 76.' The plunger 2; of the cylinder 76 isactuated by the pressure fluid, such as air, and preferably both thedownstroke and upstroke of the plunger are energized by such pressurefluid. The cylinder 76 is housed within a dust cover or casing 7'7removably secured to the frame 12 of the dispenser, and it will beapparent that the cylinder 76 must be rigid with such frame so as toeffect relative movement between the frame and ram 75.

Secured to the lower end of he ram is an ejector plate 78 having alongthe outer edge thereof a depending lip or flange 79. The ram and plate78 are in their upper or return stroke position, as depicted in FIGURE1, and it will be noted that the lower edge of the lip 79 is insubstantial alignment with the rails 45 and 46. Thus, a package beingadvanced along the rails is accelerated against the lip. Extendingupwardly from the plate 78 and secured thereto is a guide 80 is the formof an A- frame, and one is provided along each side of the plate and ofthe dust cover 77. The guides 89 are equipped adjacent the top andbottom thereof with outwardly extending bearings or pins 31 and 82 thatare slidably received within the channels 83 provided by each of theupwardly extending frame elements 16 of the main frame 13. The pins orbearings define vertical movement for the ram and ejector plate withrespect to the main frame of the dispenser because of their slidableengagement with the channels 83.

The various valves, solenoid controls therefor and necessary electricalcircuitry for controlling the ejector 12 and the transfer mechanism 11are contained within the cover 77, but such components are notillustrated, nor will they be further described herein, for they areonly concerned with initiating the various movements of the transfer andejector mechanisms, and in other respects are not pertinent to theinvention herein considered.

In operation of the ejector, fluid under pressure is supplied to theupper end of the cylinder 76, and as a consequence thereof the ram 75and ejector plate 73 are accelerated downwardly to forcibly move apackage therebelow along a path of travel extending generally downwardlyfrom the dispenser. At the bottom of the ejector stroke, fluid pressureis applied to the lower end of the cylinder 76 to return the ram andplate 78 to the starting position thereof shown in FIGURE 1.

While the operation of the three major components, comprising thestorage magazine 10, transfer mechanism 11 and ejector 12, has beendescribed in detail hereinbefore, it may be of value to summarize thefunctioning of these components in their sequential interrelation witheach other. In this respect, it may be stated that after each of theracks 18 has been filled with packages 26, in a manner such that thepackages are supported by the retainers 35 and are pressed downwardlythereagainst by the spring cords 27 and 27a, the lowermost package inthe rack 18a will be in engagement with the rails 45 and 46 because suchrack does not include retainer plates to support the packages thereinabove the rails.

The transfer mechanism 11 may now be manually or automatically operatedto advance the packages from the rack 18a toward the ejector 12; andafter a package is disposed beneath each of the racks 18, the rack 18amay again be filled. Therefore, all of these racks will now be full, andthe transfer mechanism 11 will be completely loaded.

When the dispenser is now placed in automatic operation, the transfermechanism will. operate to transfer packages in step-by-step successioninto position'below the ejector plate 78. Since the mechanism isintended to function at a relatively high rate of speed to eject manypackages per second, such packages are actually shot or acceleratedbeneath the plate and into abutment with the depending lip 79 thereof.Just as quickly as a package is received thereunder, the ram 75 isenergized and the plate 78 moved downwardly to accelerate a packagethereunder along a path of movement extending downwardly therefrom. Thetransfer mechanism and ejector are synchronized so that each packagetransferred from the rails 45 and 46 to below the plate 78 will beaccelerated downwardly by the ejector. However, it will be appreciatedthat where many packages a second are ejected, an ejector plate 73 maynot be required since the transfer moveent may be adequate.

As soon as all of the packages have been removed from the rack 18a, thelatch 41 in the rack adjacent thereto will swing outwardly, releasingthe retainer plates 35 and permitting the packages in that next rack tobe advanced by the transfer mechanism to the ejector 12. This sequenceis repeated until all of the racks 18 have been depleted of the packagesstacked therein.

While in the foregoing specification embodiment of the invention hasbeen illustrated and described in considerable detail for purposes ofmaking an adequate disclosure of the invention, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in thesedetails without departing from the spirit and principles of theinvention.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser of the character described, a storage magaz necomprising a frame defining a plurality of storage racks each adapted toreceive a stack of packages therein, means for urging each such stacktoward the discharge end of the rack, package retainers adjacent thedischarge end of a plurality of said racks and each being movable underthe weight of a package thereon from a package supporting positiondisposed beneath the rack to a position affording free egress of thepackages therefrom, and a retainer latch for each retainer-equipped rackand engageable with the retainers thereof for maintaining the same inpackage supporting position, said retainer latch being biased toward aposition remote from said retainers but being held in engagementtherewith by the constraining influence of packages abutting the sameand contained within the preceding rack adjacent thereto; and a transfermechanism comprising a pair of spaced rails adapted to receive packagesthereon from said racks, a carrier mounted below said rails forreciprocable movement along the longitudinal axis thereof and beingequipped with axially spaced stops, means for reciprocating said carrieralong said fiis through repetitive transfer stroke and backstrokecycles, a transfer carriage supported by said carrier for freereciprocatory movement between said stops, a plurality of transferfingers supported by said carrier in spaced apart relation along theaxis of reciprocation thereof for advancing packages along said railsduring the transfer stroke of said carrier, said transfer fingers beingmovable between an extended position above said rails and a retractedposition below said rails, cam means provided by said transfer carriagein coactive relation with said fingers for selectively moving the sameinto the extended position thereof at termination of the carriagebackstroke and into the retracted position thereof at termination of thecarrier transfer stroke, such extension and retrac tion of said transferfingers by said cam means being effected through relative reciprocationbetween said carrier and carriage resulting from the inertialcontinuation of the movement of said carriage at the termination of thecarrier motion is defined by the ends of the transfer and backstrokesthereof.

2. in a dispenser of the character described, a storage magazinecomprising a frame defining a plurality of storage racks each adapted toreceive a stack of packages therein, means for urging each such stacktoward the discharge end of the rack, package retainers adjacent thedischarge end of a plurality of said racks and each being movable underthe weight of a package thereon from a package supporting positiondisposed beneath the rack to a position affording free egress of thepackages therefrom, and a retainer latch for each retainer-equipped rackand engageable with the retainers thereof for maintaining the same inpackage supporting position, said retainer latch being biased toward aposition remote from said retainers but being held in engagementtherewith by the constraining influence of packages abutting the sameand contained within the preceding rack adjacent thereto; a transfermechanism comprising a pair of spaced rails adapted to receive packagesthereon from said racks, a carrier mounted below said rails forreciprocable movement along the longitudinal axis thereof and beingequipped with axially spaced stops, means for reciprocating said carrieralong said axis through repetitive transfer stroke and backstrokecycles, a transfer carriage sup ported by said carrier for freereciprocatory movement between said stops, a plurality of transferfingers supported by said carrier in spaced apart relation along theaxis of reciprocation thereof for advancing packages along said railsduring the transfer stroke of said carrier, said transfer fingers beingmovable between an extended position above said rails and a retractedposition below said rails, cam means provided by said transfer carriagein coactive relation with said fingers for selectively moving the sameinto the extended position thereof at termination of the carrierbackstroke and into the retracted position thereof at termination of thecarrier transfer stroke, such extension and retraction of said transferfingers by said cam means being efiected through relative reciprocationbetween said carrier and carriage resulting from the inertialcontinuation of the movement of said carriage at the termination of thecarrier motion as defined by the ends of the transfer and backstrokesthereof; and an ejector comprising a reciprocable ram adjacent an end ofsaid rails, means for reciprocating said ram generally across the pathof said rails, an ejector plate carried by said ram for engaging apackage advanced thereto along said rails to accelerate the package inone direction along the reciprocatory axis of said ram, and guide meansadjacent the discharge end of said dispenser for guiding the movement ofsaid ram and ejector plate with respect thereto.

3. In a dispenser of the character described, a transfer mechanismcomprising a pair of spaced rails adapted to receive packages thereon, acarrier mounted below said rails for reciprocable movement along thelongitudinal axis thereof and being equipped with axially spaced stops,means for reciprocating said carrier along said axis through repetitivetransfer stroke and backstroke cycles, a transfer carriage supported bysaid carrier for free reciprocatory movement between said stops, aplurality of transfer fingers supported by said carrier in spaced apartrelation along the axis of reciprocation thereof for advancing packagesalong said rails during the transfer stroke of said carrier, saidtransfer fingers being movable between an extended position above saidrails and a retracted position below said rails, cam means provided bysaid transfer carriage in coactive relation with said fingers forselectively moving the same into the extended position thereof attermination of the carrier backstroke and into the retracted positionthereof at termination of the carrier transfer stroke, said cam meanscomprising an inclined slot for each of said transfer fingers providedby said transfer carriage and forming an acute angle with the axis ofreciprocation thereof, and a cam follower provided by each transfer[finger for longitudinal movement through the respective slots suchextension and retraction of said transfer fingers by said cam meansbeing effected through relative reciprocation between said carrier andcarriage resulting from the inertial continuation of the movement ofsaid carriage at the termination of the carrier motion as defined by theends of the transfer and backstrokes thereof.

4. In a dispenser of the character described, a transfer 1 i mechanismcomprising a pair of spaced rails adapted to receive packages thereon, acarrier mounted below said rails for reciprocable movement along thelongitudinal axis thereof and being equipped with axially spaced stops,

means for reciprocatin said carrier along said axis 5 through repetitivetransfer stroke and backstroke cycles, a transfer carriage supported bysaid carrier for free reciprocatory movement between said stops, aplurality of transfer fingers supported by said carrier in spaced apmrelation along the axis of reciprocation thereof for advancing packagesalong said rails during the transfer stroke of said carrier, saidtransfer fingers being movable between an extended position above saidrails and a retracted position below said rails, cam means providedfingers for selectively moving the same into the extended positionthereof at termination of the carrier backstroke and into the retractedposition thereof at termination of the carrier transfer stroke, said cammeans comprising an 'by said transfer carriage in coactive relation withsaid inclined slot for each of said transfer fingers provided by saidtransfer carriage and forming an acute angle withthe axis ofreciprocation thereof, and a cam follower provided by each transferfinger for longitudinal movement through the respective slots, saidcarrier and said transfer fingers being equipped with cooperative meansto constrain movement of the fingers along the axis of reciprocation ofsaid transfer carriage and to maintain the same substantially normal tosuch axis of reciprocation, such extension and retraction of saidtransfer fin ers by said cam means being effected through relativereciprocation between said carrier and carriage resulting from theinertial continuation of the movement of said carriage at thetermination of the carrier motion as defined by the ends of the transferand backstrokes thereof.

5. In a dispenser of the character described, a storage magazinecomprising a frame defining a plurality of storage racks each adapted toreceive a stack of packages therein above a discharge opening at thedischarge end thereof, means for urging each such stack toward thedischarge end of the rack, package retainers adjacent the discharge endof each rack and being movable under the Weight of a package thereonfrom a package supporting position disposed beneath the rack to aposition affording free egress of the packages therefrom, and a retainerlatch for each retainer-equipped rack having a portion engageable withthe retainers thereof on the sides of the respective racks'adjacent tothe preceding rack from which packages are dispensed for maintaining thesame in package supporting position and a portion extending above thedischarge opening, each retainer latch being biased toward a positionremote from said retainers towards the preceding adjacent rack to permitof packages dispensed from a preceding rack to move freely under thefilled racks to a point of discharge but being held in engagement withthe retainers by the constraining influence of packages contained withinthe preceding rack adjacent thereto the lowermost of which abuts againstsaid upwardly extending portion.

6. In a dispenser of the character described, a storage magazinecomprising a plurality of storage racks each adapted to receive a stackof packages therein above a discharge opening, resilient means forurging each such stack, toward the discharge end of the respectiveracks, substantially all of said racks being equipped with packageretainers adjacent the discharge end thereof movable neath the precedingrack from which packages were 7,

dispensed and having an element extending above the discharge opening,each of said retainer latches being biased toward a position remote fromthe retainers with said element extending into the preceding rackadjacent thereto but being held in engagement with the retainers by theconstraining influence of the lowermost one of the packages above saiddischarge opening contained in such preceding rack adjacent theretoabutting said element.

7. In a storage magazine having a pair of adjacent racks each adapted toreceive a stack of packages therein above a discharge opening at thedischarge end of each rack, retainer members adjacent the dscharge endof one of said racks and being supported for movement between a positiondisposed within the rack for supporting packages thereon and a positionlaterally thereof afiording free egress of the packages through saidopenings, and a retainer latch supported between each rack and thepreceding rack and having a lower element for movement into engagementwith said retainer for maintaining the same in package supportingposition thereof and release movement into the space below the precedingrack, said retainer latch being biased toward a position remote fromsaid retainers and having an upper element'above its discharge openingprojecting into the other of said racks to be held in engagement withthe, retainers by the constraining influence of packages above saidopenings contained within the aforesaid other rack abutting saidelement.

8. The magazine structure of claim 7 in which said retainer members aredisposed on opposite sides of the discharge opening of the aforesaid onerack and are movable downwardly and laterally from the packagesupporting position thereof under the weight of a package supportedthereon, and in which means are provided for returning said retainermembers to the package supporting position thereof prior to reloadingthe rack with packages.

9. The magazine structure of claim 8 in which said retainer latch ispivotally supported between said racks and is equipped at each endthereof with a laterally turned catch adapted to be disposed beneath theretainers to support the same in the package supporting positionthereof, and in which spring'means are provided for biasing saidretainer latch upper element into the other of said racks and the lowerelement into the space he neath the preceding rack from which packageswere 7 dispensed.

10. The combination called for in claim 7 in which guide members forreceiving said packages from said discharge openings extend in adirection transverse to said racks and said retainer members aredisposed parallel to said guides,

11. In a dispenser of the character described, a storage magazinecomprising a plurality of storage racks each adapted to receive a stackof packages therein above a discharge opening, resilient cord meansadapted to be drawn over each stack for urging each stack toward thedischarge end of the respective racks, substantially all of said racksbeing equipped with package retainers adjacent the discharge end thereofmovable under the weight of a package thereon from a package supportingposition disposed within the rack to a position affording free egress ofthe packages-therefrom through said opening, a retainer latch for eachretainer-equipped rack engageable with the retainers thereof formaintaining the same in package supporting position, each retainer latchbeing mounted adjacent to the preceding rack for movement downwardlyinto space beneath the preceding rack from which packages were dispensedand having an element extending above the discharge opening, each ofsaid retainer latches being biased toward a position remote from. theretainers with said element extending into the preceding rack adjacentthereto but being held in engagement with the retainers by theconstraining infiuence of the lowermost one of the packages above saiddischarge opening contained in such preceding rack adjacent theretoabutting said element, and a relatively rigid clasp extending acrosseach of said racks for engagement with a stack of packages therein, andin which said resilient cord means is secured to said clasp at oppositeends thereof, said clasp beingsegmented intermediate the ends thereofand such segments being releasably secured together to permit separationthereof for loading the racks with packages.

12. In a dispenser of the character described, a storage magazinecomprising a plurality of storage racks each adapted to receive a stackof packages therein above a discharge opening, resilient cord meansadapted to be drawn over each stack for urging each stack toward thedischarge end of the respective racks, substantially all of said racksbeing equipped with package retainers adj acent the discharge endthereof movable under the weight of a package thereon from a packagesupporting position disposed Within the rack to a position aifordingfree egress of the packages therefrom through said opening, a retainerlatch for each retainer-equipped rack engageable with the retainersthereof for maintaining the same in package supporting position, eachretainer latch being mounted adjacent to the preceding rack for movementdownwardly into space beneath the preceding rack from which packageswere dispensed and having an element extending above the dischargeopening, each of said retainer latches being biased toward a positionremote from the retainers with said element extending into the precedingrack adjacent thereto but being held in engagement with the retainers bythe constraining influence of the lowermost one of the packages abovesaid discharge opening contained in such preceding rack adjacent theretoabutting said element, and a relatively rigid clasp extending acrosseach of said racks for engagement with a stack of packages therein, andin which said resilient cord means is secured to said clasp at oppositeends thereof, said clasp being segmented intermediate the ends thereofand such segments being releasably secured together to permit separationthereof for loading the racks With packages, said magazine beingequipped with a plurality of fasteners, one for each of said racks andon each side thereof, said fasteners being adapted to secure saidresilient cord means and clasps when the clasps are separated to affordloading access to said racks.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS769,063 Dougherty et al. Aug. 30, 1904 1,364,562 Laughton Ian. 4, 19211,564,540 Dinwiddie Dec. 8, 1925 2,021,659 Judkins Nov. 19, 19352,889,074 Reynolds June 2, 1959

